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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Please take a moment to visit our anthology post and share your thoughts on the topic. We are discussing the idea of having our second anthology published by December. If you wish to see your poetry published come talk with us.

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,Till on the haunting flares we turned our backsAnd towards our distant rest began to trudge.Men marched asleep. Many had lost their bootsBut limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hootsOf disappointed shells that dropped behind.

GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;But someone still was yelling out and stumblingAnd floundering like a man in fire or lime.--Dim, through the misty panes and thick green lightAs under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could paceBehind the wagon that we flung him in,And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;If you could hear, at every jolt, the bloodCome gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cudOf vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--My friend, you would not tell with such high zestTo children ardent for some desperate glory,The old Lie: Dulce et decorum estPro patria mori.

Wilfred Owen was born in 1893 to a middle-class family in Oswestry in the North of England. Two years later, Owen's grandfather, the financial mainstay of the family, died almost bankrupt. Owen's parents had to move into rented accommodation in the more urban area of Birkenhead. His mother, in particular, resented the family's loss of financial security and its outward signs of gentility.

Owen began to read and write poetry as a child, and, following his mother's interest in religion, started to read the Bible on a daily basis. Owen's family could not afford to send him to public school. Nor, when he failed to win an academic scholarship to the University of London (not as socially or intellectually exclusive as Oxford or Cambridge) in 1911, could they afford to pay for a college education.

Owen thus had to find an occupation suitable to a young man of his class. In 1911, he moved south to the village of Dunsden, near Reading, where he worked as a lay reader (an assistant to a clergyman) until 1913. He attended classes part-time at the University of Reading but, despite encouragement from the head of the English department, he again failed to win the scholarship that would have financed full-time study.

After falling ill in 1913, he decided to work as a private teacher, a profession which required little formal training and which would not compromise his, or his family's, social status. He traveled to France, where he worked until 1915. Just after the outbreak of the war, he wrote to his mother, "While is is true that the guns will effect a little useful weeding, I am furious with chagrin to think that the Minds which were to have excelled the civilization of ten thousand years are being annihilated - and bodies, the product of aeons of Natural Selection, melted down to pay for political statues." (Quoted in Jon Stallworthy, Wilfred Owen: The War Poems (London 1994), p. xxiv)

Breathless, we flung us on a windy hill, Laughed in the sun, and kissed the lovely grass.

~ Rupert Brooke

It is the summer season for me here in sunny hot Texas and yesterday after mowing my yard I took a moment and laid on the cool grass beneath the shade of a huge oak tree in my front yard. While the sprinkler head rhythmically beat away showering another portion of my yard I couldn’t help but shut my eyes and think of my youth. It’s not too often that I stop and do something like this and I found it so very refreshing and invigorating that I decided right then this would be tomorrow’s prompt. Well guess what? Today is tomorrow and here I am inviting you to write about grass.

Each blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life, its strength; and so is man rooted to the land from which he draws his faith together with his life.

~ Joseph Conrad

When you stop for a moment and you think of the word grass what do you envision? Is it a broad field with a breeze blowing sending ripples across surface? Or maybe you grew up on a farm and you despise the work that came with bailing hay or wheat fields. Can you smell the green freshness of it in your nose? The thought of grass takes me instantly back to my childhood when I would roll around in it without a care in the world; now as an adult I can’t seem to not cringe at the thought of itching or the fear of fire ants.

Maybe you’re the neighbor of the month and you have the house that everyone wonders if you ever work? With a lawn that beautiful there cannot be time for anything else right? Maybe you are a golfer who hits the course just after dawn and enjoys walking up a long par five while the dew of the morning air still clings to the green. Or just maybe, this one is for all you hippies out there, maybe you are a naturist and love the aroma and escape of rolling a small joint and chilling out with your own special grass.

God, I can push the grass apart and lay my finger on Thy heart.

~ Edna St. Vincent Millay

There are so many ways to run with this prompt. Which way will you choose? We look forward to reading everyone’s tales of green this week and as always we are happy to have you here.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Kids, one of our most active members, and a Poets United staffer, is Marian of runaway sentence . Marian is our New Member/Blogroll Coordinator, and is an active presence throughout our community. She kindly agreed to let us have a peek into her busy life, and it’s a sweet peek, at a happy family, that does my old heart good!

Poets United:Marian, it is lovely to be sitting down with you at last. What led you to blogging, and the cool name of your site?

By Mario Cerroni, a poet/blogger & photographer who lives in Ontario Canada. Mario is so much more than a poet. That is just the added bonus that he couples with his wonderful photography. His images are often on display and sold in various art galleries. If you would like to see more of his photography you can do so by visiting his site also titled Photodiction. But today we focus on his poetry and his wonderful gift of shaping words to the world he captures with his camera.

Thanks, Mario, for being part of our community! We appreciate you and your contributions.

Every week Poets United tries to introduce our members and readers to a poet and poetry blog found in our community. Poets United is about reading, writing, and enjoying one another’s poetry; and this is just one more way to show our support for one another. We would love to hear your comments on this poet’s blog and poetry; so please come back after visiting the blog of the week and let us know your thoughts. I am sure the poet would also like to read comments on her poems.

We hope you enjoy visiting the highlighted blogs each week. Thank you for supporting your fellow poets with positive comments. You may soon see your blog highlighted here.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Please take a moment to visit our anthology post and share your thoughts on the topic. We are discussing the idea of having our second antholgy published by December. If you wish to see your poetry published come talk with us.

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Poets United is preparing to begin work on our second Poetry Pantry Anthology. It is our hopes for it to possibly be done in time for the winter holidays. We are considering themes, submission requirements and deadlines at this time and would really like your feedback for this. If you have any ideas or suggestion for this anthology please let us know by emailing us at poetsunited@ymail.com or simply comment in the comment section below. All suggestions will be considered.

The Poetry Pantry, independent and unaffiliated, is an international poetry anthology published annually or biannually by Poets United, an online poetry blog community. It is run entirely by its community participants under the guidance of its founder Robert Lloyd. The Poetry Pantry features poetry, prose and art submitted and approved by the members of Poets United.

Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on August 4, 1792 in England and attended Sion House Academy before entering University College, Oxford, in 1804. He was ultimately estranged from his wealthy father and expelled from school for atheistic views he expressed in, among other writings, Zastrozzi (1810) and The Necessity of Atheism (1811).

In 1811 he eloped with sixteen-year old Harriet Westbrook (1795-1816) with whom he had two children, a daughter, Ianthe, born in 1813 and a son, Charles, born in 1814. Shortly after Charles’ birth, Shelley invited a male friend to live with his family and encouraged Harriet to embrace the concept of open marriage. This radical notion led to the disintegration of their marriage.

For the next three years Shelley traveled often to study under atheist journalist William Godwin. He continued to write poetry while studying under Godwin, and embracing his radical political philosophy. During this time Shelley met and fell in love with Godwin’s daughter Mary, also a poet and writer. In 1814 the two eloped.

In 1815 the Shelley’s moved to a home in London’s outskirts, soon after which his grandfather died and left them an annual stipend of £1000. His The Spirit of Solitude was published in 1816 and their joint effort History of Six Weeks Tour was published in 1817.

The Shelley’s moved to Italy in 1818, the year her novel Frankenstein was first published. Their son Percy Florence was born a year later. The couple continued work on numerous projects for the next few years, including a tragedy in five acts, The Cenci, and Men of England. Their appreciation of sailing led them to purchase a schooner, “The Don Juan”. While on a sailing trip on 8 July 1822, a storm overtook and sank the vessel. Shelley, just twenty-nine, drowned.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

What does the night mean to you? For some it is nothing more than a time when darkness sets in and it is time for sleep. Then there are others who thrive at night. There are those that discover, create and live within the night. The night plays host to a million burdens, beasts, passions and experiences and that is only what may occur with the first few fingers of darkness touching us.

When the midnight hour is upon the world do you sleep? Do you find yourself in a small corner of your house enjoying the privacy while reading by candlelight or do you cower hoping that vampires, werewolves and lord knows what else are just fantasies? Maybe you are the predator at night, maybe it is you who skulks in the darkness searching for your next victim. Better yet do you attend Cocktail Parties, Pot Lucks, and Dance Clubs or frequent a wonderfully seedy establishment drowned in the stench of bourbon and cigarette smoke. What do you do at night?

Hawthorne once said “Moonlight is sculpture” and I couldn’t agree more. For me the night is a time for the imagination to let loose and run wild. What will you write when you think of nighttime, will you find a passionate love story to tell, perhaps a romantic rendezvous? The options and ideas for this week’s prompt are limitless. Sit back and think of the night. Think of sunset and moonlight. Think even of the first rays of light peaking over the horizon and then write. Write what comes to you.

We look forward to reading and living the life that is inspired in your pen by the darkness.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

It’s the Boys’ turn for an interview, so I stopped by Thinking With An Open Mouth and asked Daniel Jay if he was up for it. He has just completed passing his boards as a registered nurse, after a gruelling course of study and training, but he said “Sure!” Daniel is a very talented photographer, as well as a poet and musician, so the photos he sent me are extra special, including the ones taken of Daniel by his wife, Jen. They really know how to set up a photo! Grab a cuppa – Daniel loves coffee – and gather round.

Poets United:Daniel, it is so good of you to meet with us. Congrats on passing your boards! Is there a story about the name of your blog?

Daniel:My blog came long after my beginning as a writer, so in theorizing an appropriate entry phrase to my blog, the name really just popped into my head - Thinking With an Open Mouth.That's what I'm doing on there.Thinking out loud.And not just the normal, harmless ones that no one ever hears.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Poets United is all about Community. We wish to celebrate and acknowledge individual poets who are part of our group. This week's poem of the week is Work of Art which is written by Hedgewitch, a poet from Oklahoma, USA, who writes poetry on Verse Escape .

We hope you have enjoyed reading this week’s selection. Each week we select a poem from one of our members which we feel is a wonderful read. It is the poetry penned by our members and their willingness to share that is the core of our community. If you enjoyed reading this poem we can guarantee there will be many more like it so be sure to stop by next week and read the poem that has been selected for your reading pleasure.

We hope that each of you will spend a bit of time each day reading some of the terrific poetry written by our poets. It's all about community!

by Margo Roby, a poet/blogger who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and is a retired teacher. If you take a look at Margo's blog, you will see that Margo is a very knowledgeable poet who supports a lot of online poetic communities, in addition to writing poems of her own.

Some poems of Margo's that we would like to highlight from his blog are located in the Some of My Words Gathered section of her poetry blog.

The poems don't have individual links, but the ones that Pamela Sayers selected as being good examples of Margo's work are "By Design," "Word Flight," and "Early Morning." Take a look at these and other poems you will see.
Hope you will take a look at those and explore Margo's blog even more.

Thanks, Margo, for being part of our community! We appreciate you and your contributions.

Every week Poets United tries to introduce our members and readers to a poet and poetry blog found in our community. This blog and the poems, as we said above, were suggested by Pamela Sayers. Thank you, Pamela. Poets United is about reading, writing, and enjoying one another’s poetry; and this is just one more way to show our support for one another. We would love to hear your comments on this poet’s blog and poetry; so please come back after visiting the blog of the week and let us know your thoughts.

We hope you enjoy visiting the highlighted blogs each week. Thank you for supporting your fellow poets with positive comments. You may soon see your blog highlighted here.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

We will be looking for a new Poetry Pnatry Image so if you have any ideas or know of a good image to use please send it our way.

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

GOLDEN rose the house, in theportal I sawthee, a marvel, carven in subtle

stuff, a portent. Life died down in the lamp andflickered,

caught at the wonder.

Crimson, frosty with dew, the roses bend

where

thou afar moving in the glamorous sundrinkst in life of earth, of the air, the

tissue

golden about thee.

Green the ways, the breath of the fields

is thine there,

open lies the land, yet the steely goingdarkly hast thou dared and the dreadedaether

parted before thee. 1912

Of all the major literary figures in the twentieth century, Ezra Pound has been one of the most controversial; he has also been one of modern poetry's most important contributors. In an introduction to the Literary Essays of Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot declared that Pound "is more responsible for the twentieth-century revolution in poetry than is any other individual." Four decades later, Donald Hall reaffirmed in remarks collected in Remembering Poets that "Ezra Pound is the poet who, a thousand times more than any other man, has made modern poetry possible in English."

The importance of Pound's contributions to the arts and to the revitalization of poetry early in this century has been widely acknowledged; yet in 1950, Hugh Kenner could claim in his groundbreaking study The Poetry of Ezra Pound, "There is no great contemporary writer who is less read than Ezra Pound." Pound never sought, nor had, a wide reading audience; his technical innovations and use of unconventional poetic materials often baffled even sympathetic readers. Early in his career, Pound aroused controversy because of his aesthetic views; later, because of his political views. For the greater part of this century, however, Pound devoted his energies to advancing the art of poetry and maintaining his aesthetic standards in the midst of extreme adversity.

“We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.” ~ Orson Welles

Loneliness; over the years the idea or feeling of being alone has influenced many writers and poets in many ways. While some find solace in being alone others absolutely abhor and fear it. What does the idea of being alone mean to you?

I expect the thoughts of being alone to invoke a lot of deep emotions that some folks can’t or do not wish to bring themselves to write about and I understand that. So we give you an out of sorts here if you can't or dont want to attempt writing from a lonely place.

From the term loneliness a person can take the word "Alone". It is not as harsh a concept or as desolate an Idea. I would like to point out that not always is being alone a bad and emotionally draining concept. It is not loneliness. Teachers after a long day of screaming five year olds like to be alone. Rock stars, movie stars and even the president take comfort in getting a few moments to themselves. I know my mother was happy when I went off on some adventure because that guaranteed her some “Alone Time”. This usually entailed Tammy Wynette blaring on the record player and half a bottle of wine but she was happy.

If you dare to actually take the challenge of writing about true loneliness or the feeling of being lonley we cant wait to read your sullen words. There are some who enjoy the feeling of lonelinees. The belief that there is no one and nothing out there but you. Although to me this is huge emotional drain I find some of my best writing comes during those times. It makes you reflect on life and the many aspects of it we tend to ignore on a regular basis.

So this week we give you the prompt of loneliness. When does it strike you the most, the holidays after the family has left? When someone close to you has passed on? When you move away from your childhood home? When do you feel you’re most alone?

The best thing about Poets United is we are here to ensure you are not alone unless you want to be. Any given day you can reach out and someone in this community will be there for a comment, a smile or just a simple acknowledgment.

We know this prompt may cause you to tug at some deeper heart strings but know that we look forward to reading what you write and share with us. With your words you may convince yourself and others that we are not alone in what we feel.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Hi, kids! In our community, we have a very energetic member called A.M. Trumble You can find her poems at Originals, and some cool examples of interior design on her other blog, A.M. Designs. Amy is a Poets United staffer; she is our ambassador on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/PoetsUnited where she does a simply terrific job of keeping our profile happening out in the Big World. Yay, Amy! We all thank you so much for that! Somehow, I picture Amy in a loft, so let’s open the door, peek in, and see what the youngster has been up to.

Poets United:Amy, so happy to sit down with you at last! Is there a story behind the name of your blog?

Amy:The concept is almost juvenilely simple-I was reading an interview of The New Pornographer’s front man AC Newman –-they asked him how he came up such an “original” sound-he stated that his originality was only the result of his failed attempts to copy his idols. I loved that idea-and “stole” it immediately. And so “Originals” was born. I think it has really summed up, for me and my readers, my creative pursuits as far as my writing style and everything I attempt to do, especially online. I always like to think I’m at least attempting to do something new and different, but it seems to turn out best when it happens accidentally.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Poets United is all about Community. We wish to celebrate and acknowledge individual poets who are part of this group. This week's poem of the week is In Dreams which is shared by A. M. Trumble in her blog Originals. Amy lives in southeastern Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and yearns to travel.

Thanks, Amy, for being part of the Poets United community. It is nice to get to know you through your poetry.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this week’s selection. Each week we select a poem from one of our members which we feel is a wonderful read. It is the poetry penned by our members and their willingness to share that is the core of our community. If you enjoyed reading this poem we can guarantee there will be many more like it so be sure to stop by next week and read the poem that has been selected for your reading pleasure.

Monday, July 11, 2011

The Bookshelf is an extension of the Poets United Community. Since Poets United’s inception we have grown into a large and diverse community with poets and writers from all over the world with various writing styles. Many of our members have been published or have self published their writings through Lulu or some other form of small press. We have decided that in a further effort to support our members and their crafts we would set up a place where members of Poets United who have published poetry or prose can get a little more exposure.

Any active members of Poets United (60 Days or more) can have their books listed at “The Bookshelf” as long as they are poetry or prose related. They do not have to be strictly Poetry or Prose, since we know some of our member’s dabble in many of the arts, but there has to be some apsect of poetry or prose found in the listed material. This listing is not intended as a place to bombard our members with pleas for books to be purchased or read. This is merely a small database or compilation of works that anyone can browse and possibly consider picking up a copy or two from their fellow writers and friends.

Our posts will be simple and short, listing all relevant information in regards to the poet and the published material. The information found here will be submitted by our members for our members. Should you wish to submit some of your own published work please be sure to see our “Add Your Book Today” section.

As the poetry community continues to grow Poets United is glad to help further the progress by giving its members any and every opportunity to shine. We hope that this addition becomes one of those opportunities.

(We ask that you are patient with us in this new endeavor as we are certain there will be a few tweaks here and there in the beginning.)

Thanks, Mike, for being part of our community! We appreciate you and your contributions and your participation..

Every week Poets United tries to introduce our members and readers to a poet and poetry blog found in our community. Poets United is about reading, writing, and enjoying one another’s poetry; and this is just one more way to show our support for one another. We would love to hear your comments on this poet’s blog and poetry; so please come back after visiting the blog of the week and let us know your thoughts. I am sure the poet would also like to read comments on his poems.

We hope you enjoy visiting the highlighted blogs each week. Thank you for supporting your fellow poets with positive comments. You may soon see your blog highlighted here.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

Elinor Wylie was born in Somerville, New Jersey in 1885 to a wealthy family. Raised in Washington D.C. to be a socially prominent “lady of the manor,” Elinor attended both The Baldwin School and Holton-Arms School. Well-educated as well as being a noted beauty and gifted artist, Elinor’s personal life often overshadowed her professional accomplishments; and she became most well-known for her multiple marriages and numerous affairs.

Torn between painting and writing, Elinor ultimately committed to words rather than oils. She wrote eight novels and books of poetry. Her first book, Incidental Numbers (1912), was published privately in England. Nets to Catch the Wind (1921) was her first critically acclaimed work. Other volumes of poetry include: Black Armour (1923), Trivial Breath (1928), Angels and Earthly Creatures (1929), and Collected Poems of Elinor Wylie (1932). In late 1928, she finished the last poem for Angels and Earthly Creatures, and prepared the manuscript for the printer. She died from a stroke the following day at the age of 43.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

It is the first week of the month and time for our photo prompt. I so enjoyed your view, your words, on the prompt “time out”! Your words reflected so many unique views, all wonderful to read~

This photo I emailed to a magazine and it was selected for the Miscellany column in Somerset Life. I didn’t know it was picked; I had pre-ordered an issue. I was stunned when I saw my photo graced their pages. I think I will try again. Here is a link, if you would like to do the same: Stampington Submissions

At first when I see this photo, I think of late fall, early winter when the weather drives us indoors. We allow more time for reading, but summer does as well. This is why there is a summer reading list, on every morning TV news show. Winter and summer is when we must read the most, this is what the experts tell us. Book sales tell the real story! Perhaps you lie on a sandy beach and indulge yourself with a good yarn or curl up in a comfy spot at home; I would love to hear about your time of escape. We as poets are intrigued by the facets of words; we know how their dazzling brilliance attracts and eludes us. Please pen a poem about reading; you can be general or specific. Many facets of our time are not our own. Reading and writing allows the insight of our souls, to be revealed. Write a poem that expresses a favorite book you have read or your feelings of the written word.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Kids, this is why I love doing interviews so much. Every person - and especially every poet - has a story, and the poet we are featuring today is one of the most interesting folks in blogdom, in my humble opinion. Today we are sitting down with Amy, of Sharp Little Pencil, whose writings, passion and activism I have long admired. Pull a deck chair into the shade, pour some ice-cold lemonade, and get ready to be entertained by this very interesting poet/musician/activist/mother/pastor’s wife.

Poets United: Amy, is there a story behind the name Sharp Little Pencil? What led you to the world of blogging?

Amy: The name Sharp Little Pencil was a fluke (as are many things in my life!)I was using the electric sharpener and discovered that if you twist the pencil, the end is neater.I said to my husband, “Now THERE’S a sharp little pencil.”Boom.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Poets United is all about Community. We wish to celebrate and acknowledge individual poets who are part of our group. This week's poem of the week is True Blue which is written by Liz Rice-Sosne a poet from the "heartland" of the USA, who writes poetry as Old Raven on Crows Fete...Words to fly by. She wrote this poem about Sherry Blue Sky's dog Pup who quite recently crossed over the "Rainbow Bridge."

We'd like to thank Eileen O'Neill, fellow Poets United member and blogger at Words and Thoughts, for intially giving us a heads up in regard to Old Raven's work.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this week’s selection. Each week we select a poem from one of our members which we feel is a wonderful read. It is the poetry penned by our members and their willingness to share that is the core of our community. If you enjoyed reading this poem we can guarantee there will be many more like it so be sure to stop by next week and read the poem that has been selected for your reading pleasure.

by Victoria Hendricks, a poet/blogger who lives in Texas, USA. Her motto is, "Real is better than perfect." You will see the realness in her poems in this blog. It may have a no-frills appearance, but her poems are thought-provoking and complex.

Some poems of Victoria's we would like to highlight from her blog are:

Thanks, Victoria, for being part of our community! We appreciate you and your contributions.

Every week Poets United tries to introduce our members and readers to a poet and poetry blog found in our community. Poets United is about reading, writing, and enjoying one another’s poetry; and this is just one more way to show our support for one another. We would love to hear your comments on this poet’s blog and poetry; so please come back after visiting the blog of the week and let us know your thoughts. I am sure the poet would also like to read comments on her poems.

We hope you enjoy visiting the highlighted blogs each week. Thank you for supporting your fellow poets with positive comments. You may soon see your blog highlighted here.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

I wander thro' each charter'd street,Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,And mark in every face I meetMarks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,In every Infant's cry of fear,In every voice, in every ban,The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.

How the Chimney-sweeper's cryEvery black'ning Church appalls;And the hapless Soldier's sighRuns in blood down Palace walls.

But most thro' midnight streets I hearHow the youthful Harlot's curseBlasts the new born Infant's tear,And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.

In his Life of William Blake (1863) Alexander Gilchrist warned his readers that Blake "neither wrote nor drew for the many, hardly for work'y-day men at all, rather for children and angels; himself 'a divine child,' whose playthings were sun, moon, and stars, the heavens and the earth." Yet Blake himself believed that his writings were of national importance and that they could be understood by a majority of men. Far from being an isolated mystic, Blake lived and worked in the teeming metropolis of London at a time of great social and political change that profoundly influenced his writing. After the peace established in 1762, the British Empire seemed secure, but the storm wave begun with the American Revolution in 1775 and the French Revolution in 1789 changed forever the way men looked at their relationship to the state and to the established church. Poet, painter, and engraver, Blake worked to bring about a change both in the social order and in the minds of men.

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